Pulp-forming machine



f "May 28, 1929-v c. v.1. KEENAN TAL R- 17,303

PULP FORMING MACHINE M Ec E E JP am m a dm l zu BY WW d,

r ATTORNEYS.

c. J. KEENAN ET AL `Re. 17,303

May 28, 1929.

' PULP FomaING MACHINE Origirvxal Filed Feb. 9, 1926 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 1www .z Kmm- BY N GG .my

l M 4M- Zluir TTORNEYS.

May 2s", 1929.

ruLP FORMING MACHINE 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Original -Fled Feb. 9, 1926 EU ENEPIGA/NED? Reissued-Mny 28, 1929. i

y UNITED vSTATES CISCO, PQBATION OF CALIFORNIA.

Ref 11,303 PIATEN or SAN IBLN- CALIFORNIA, -ASSIGNORS TO ALASKA PUL? ANDPAPER COMPANY, A CGR- PULP-FORM'ING MACHINE.

Original No. 1,631,671,4 dated March 22, 1927, Serial No. 86,972, ledFebruary 9, 1926. Application for v reissue led October 12, 1927.Seriall No. 225,824.

This invention relates to a machine Whereby articles such as paper cups,bottles, pie

' pulp vat and are subjected to a suction ac plates, berry baskets andthe like may be formed from wet pulp or analogous material. The objectof the present invention is to generally improve and simplify the construction and operation of machines'of the character described andparticularly to provide a machine which .is continuous in operation andin which the pulp is automatically applied to the molds, relieved ofexcess Wajter, dried and finally ejected. The invention morespecifically stated embodies ya machine of the rotary type having anannular rim composed o f a vseries of molds. These molds laresuccessivelyadapted to be submerged during continuous rotation in aution when a coating of; pulp is to ybe applied.

' ing the application of the pulp,

'The machine 1s provided with means for trappingwater admitted to themolds durit is provided' with meansfor automatically draining the iWater from the. molds, and it is further provided With means whereby thepulp may be dried on the molds and automatically eject ed When dried.

One form which the invention may assume is exemplified intheaccompanying draw ings in which:

Fig. l 11s a side elevation of the machine partially in section.

Fig. 2 is a central vertical cross section of the machine.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged detaill cross section of one of the molds.

Fig. 4: 1s anenlarged side elevation of one of the mOi-ds.`

Fig. 5 is a cross-section of valve 22.

Referring to the drawings lin detail and particularly to Figs. 1 and 2,A indicates a main frame'inwhich is journalled a tubular shaft B. n drumC, and c'arried'by the drum 1s ayplurality of molds upon which the pulpis adapt- -ed to be formed and dried.` Disposed below,

the drum is a pulp receiving tank D into which pulp is continuouslyAdelivered from any .suitable source. i

Before rende-ring a detailed description of the several parts of themachine a brief description of the .generaloperation will be submitted.

lready removal thereof. T

Carried` by theshaft is an annular" lerally indicated at l A continuousrotary motion is transmitted to the shaft B and the drum C carrying themolds and the molds are accordin ly successively submerged in the pulptank At the time of submersion in the pulp-containin tank D, a suctionis applied to the molds an they are coated with a layer ofpulp. Waterenters the molds durin the pulp and the Water 1s trapped to permit evsuctlon is stopped after the layer of pulp has been applied and thetrapped water is then drained plied after the removal of the water.

The mold side of the drum is enclosed by T OFFICE.

4 cHABLEs J.' KEENAN, EUGENE r. KENNEDY, AND GEORGE n. mascia,

the appllcation .of-

.oif or removed, and the suction is again ap-V a casing or housing E anda hot or warm air 'current is continuously circulated through thecaslng. The suction to which the drying molds are subjected causes thewarm air to pass'through the nlp and the molds and the pulp is thus driedirectly on the molds and the completed pulp articles are finallydischarged When the discharge chute F is reached. The pul articles arehere e'ected by means of air undhr pressure and are ally removed by anendless conveyor belt G which carries the completed pulp articles to anypoint desired.

A` detailedvdescription of the construction of the machine will now'besubmitted having -particular reference to Figs. 1,'3 and 4:. Byreferring to Fig. 1` it will be noted that the drum appears to consist.of a number of substantially square-shaped casings. -These casings areparticularly illustrated in Figs. 3 and 4. They are indicated at 2 andare substantially squarein outline. The severalcasings are connected toform the annulardrum C by means of lugs 3 and bolts 4 and they are coredout tol form interior chambers 5 which are intermittently subjected to asuction action and an air ressure as will hereinafter be described. Tlierear face of each casing is closed as indicated at 6 while the front'faces' are provided with openings'? which are provided for'thereception of the molds gen- 8, there bring one mold for each casing.Each mold consists of a IUC perforated plate of metal 9 which is shapedto conform to the pulp article to be produced. In the present instance aberry'basket is to be produced and the mold or perforatedmember 9islaccordingly square in shape and fairly deep.

The perforated pla-te is provided with a flange 10 andthe flange is heldagainst the outer face 11 of the asing b means of a clamping plate 12and bolts 13. The exterior surface of the perforated inember 9 iscovered with a tine screen material 14 and the pulp is formed on thesurface thereof as will hereinafter be described.

The several casings forming the drum C are supported with relation tot-he hollow shaft lil by means of tie rods or spokes 1G. The severalc'asings are also connected With the hollow shaft through means ofsuction pipes 17 and air pressure or blasting pipes 18,' there being onesuction pipe and one air blast pipe connected with each mold casing. rQlhe pipes 17 are provided With valves 19 so that the suction action onthe molds may be controlled and the pipes 18 are similarly provided withvalves 20 so that the air under pressure delivered to the mold casingsmay be controlled. Each mold casing is also provided with a venting.valve 21 and each casing is also provided With- The valves 19, 20 and22 are identical in construction and they are operated in the samemanner and it is accordingly thought that the detail description of onevalve will suftice.

For instance, by referring to the drain valve indicated at 22 and byfurther referring to Figs. 3 and 5 it Will be noted that it is nothingmore or less than a two-way cock. The valve consists of a casing havingan inlet opening 23 in communication with the chamber 5 of the casingand a discharge opening 24.' A tapered cock 25 passes through the valvecasing and it is heldin tight engagement by meansA of a spring 26.

`The projecting end of the coclris provided With a star gear 27 andmeans are employed for imparting an intermittent rotary motion to thestai' gear andthe cock 25 actuated thereby. Each casing 2 is providedWith an extension 28 in which is formed a trap chamber 29. The valve 22is disposed at the lower end of the chamber andthe water collectedtherein is automatically drained ott Whenever the valve 22 is opened.`The air pressure pipes 18 are all connected with an annular pipe-30 andthis is in turn connected with a radially disposed pipe 31 Which entersthe tubular shaft B and which connected With a pipe 32 extending througha stuffing box at one end thereof, pipe 32 being in turn connected witha source of air supply under pressure not here shown. The opposite endof the tubular shaft is connected with a suction pipe 33 and this isinturn connected with a Vacuum pump or the like not here shown. The pipe33 is stationary and as shaft B is continuously lrota-ted through meansof a pulley or other suitable means, such as shown at 34, a connection35 is formed between the pipe and the end of the a d rain valve 22.

shaft. B to preventleakage. All of the pipes 17 are connected withthercentral portion of the shaft- B and as this is in turn connectedwith a suction pipe 33 it is obvious that a suction will be produced ineach casing 2 when the valves 19 areopened. The molds S are in thepresent instance arranged only on one side of the casings 2, but itisolovious that tn'o sets of'molds may be. enlployed in conjunction withcach casing it' desired. In view of the fact that the molds are placedon the sides of the drum, an enclosing housing is not required. That is,the housing which delivers hot air or any other drying medium to themolds is arranged at one side only as indicated at 40. The housingextends from a point indicated at 45 to the discharge chute F. One endis connected with a hot air furnace or the like, not here illustrated,and hot air-is thus continuously delivered to the housing and is drawnthrough the pulp and the molds which will hereinafter be described. i

In actual operation it will be understood that the drum C iscontinuously rotated through means of the pulley 34 or other drivingconnection provided, and similarly, that pulp is continuouslydeliveredto the vat D. During the continuous operation of the drum thecasings 2 carrying the molds Will be successively submerged in the vatand as a suction is applied to each mold during the period of submersiona coating of pulp Will be applied. With star Wheel handles 19" and asthey reach the point indicated at 4G they. engage a stationary pin 47.The pin engaging With the star gear imparts a quarter revolution there-`to and the suction valves are thus opened and they remain open until thepoint t8 is reached. See Fig. 1. The coatingof pulp is appliedv duringthis portion of the revolution of the drum and a second pin 49 is thenengaged Which imparts another quarter revolution to the valves 19 thusclosing olf the suction connection. A pin 50 engages the' star Wheelhandles 27 'the moment the suction valves are closed, that is at thepoint 48 and the drain valves 22 are accordingly opened. The Wateradmitted to the casings and trapped iii the chambers 29 thereof isdrained off during thepopenposition` of the valves '22 and the drainvalves are closed when the point 51 is reached. Each 'casing aspreviously stated is provided with a venting valve 21. The ventingvalves are provided With plung- Vers 21a which are engaged by a'camtrack 211.

This track extends from the point 48to the point 51 and the lventingvalves arethus opened during. the draining period.A vThe venting valvesare merely provided for the purpose of facilitating complete draining ofthe Water admitted. or in other Words, to prevent any vacuum formationwithin the casings during the draining period. The suc- The suctionvalves 19 are provided.

`tion valves are engaged by a pin 52 when the point 45 is reached. Thatis, after the drain valves have been closed and the suction valvesremain open until the point 53 is reached. The valves are here engagedby a pin which transmits a turning motion to close the valves.

A second pin engages the star wheel handles ol' the valves 20 at thesame point and the valves delivering compressed air to the casings arethus opened. The pulp containers are now dry and as air pressure isadmitted they are blown o tf the molds and discharged into the chute Fand finally delivered to the conveyor belt Gr which removes the pulpcontainers from the lnachine. A second Ypin 56 is engaged by the stargear handles 2da --and the air pressurevalves are again closed. The pins55 and 56 are close together and the air under pressure is onlymomentarily applied. The valves Q0 are only opened and closed onceduring each revolution ot the drum While the suction valves 19 areopened and closed a number of times. They are lirst opened at the point46 when the molds are submerged. They are closed at the point Ll-8 andremain closed until thepoint l5 is reached.

They are here opened and remain open c until the point 53,;is reached.They are here vautomatically applied during submersionI ot the molds,and that excess water is drained olf after the application of the pulp.The pulp applied is dried during the passage of the molds through thecasing 40, and the pulp articles when dried are automatically ejected bymeans of air under pressure when the discharge chute F is reached. Theentire operation is continuous, a large capacity is possible, pulparticles of practically any shape desired may be obtained, such as berrybaskets, pieplates, cups, bottles, etc a complicated mechanism isentirely obviated, as .the pulpis applied directly on the mold, it .isformed thereon, dried thereon, and tinally automatically ejected. A

While certain yfeatures of the present invention have been more or lessspecifi-cally described and illustrated, we wish it understood 4thatcertain changes may be resorted to within the scope of the appendedclaims. le also wish it understood that the material and linish of thevarious parts employed may be such as the experience and judgment of themanufacturer may dictate or conditions ,may demand.

The thermal-etliciency or amount of heat required by a machine ol thischaracter is small when comparison is made with other machines. This isdue to the .tact that the housing or casing -l0 is mounted on one sideot' the drum only. In other words no part ol the-drum enters the dryinghousing, but it merely runs in snug contact with one side ot the dryinghousing, an'l, as the molds communicate with the drying housing, warmair is drawn through the molds and the only part of the housing which issubjected to theheat is that portion which supports the mold. Othertypes of machines have employed a drying housing, but in every instanceof which weare aware, not only the molds enter the housing but also themold supports or casings cooperatingl therewith. Such an arrangement isdecidedly wasteful as the en-l tire drum or mechanism becomes heated andisv cooled again when the molds are submerged. 'Heating ot the casingscarrying the moldsl is entirely obviated in our structure and expansionand contraction of the drum formed by the mold housings is also obviatedthereby eleminating expansion strains and stresses. Havingl thusdescribed our invention, what we c laim and desire to secure by Letterslalent 1s:

1. In a machine of the character described, a mold mounted for movementthrough a. pulp tank and a drying chamber, ineansfor'applying a layer ofpulp to the mold while passing through the tank by subjecting the moldto a suction action, means for trapping water admitted to the moldduring the application of the pulp and means for automatically drainingoil" the water before the mold enters the drying chamber.

2. In a machine of the character described, a mold mounted for movementthrough a pulp tank and a drying-chamber, means for applying the layerof. pulp to the mold while 4passing through the tank by subjecting themold to a suction action, said mold having a trap chamber formed thereinfor the collection of water admitted during the application ot' thepulp, a drainvalve. in communication with the trap chamber and means forautomatically maintaining the valve open for a predetermined periodbefore 'the mold enters the drying chamber to drain off the Watervcollected in the trap.

3. In a machine of the character described, a mold `mounted forlmovement through a pulp tank and a drying chamber, means for y applyinga layer ot pulp to the mold while passing through the tank b vsubjectingthe mold to a suction action, said mold having a trap chamber formedtherein l'or the collection ot' water admitted during the applicationyot the pulp, a vdrain valve in communication withv the trap chamber',means toi; discontinuing the suction action when the coat-' lao ing ofpulp has been applied, means for automatical-ly opening the drain valvewhen the suction ceases topermit the Water in the trap to drain awayfrom the mold, means for automatic-ally closing the valve after thewater has been drained olf and means for automatically subjecting thelmold to a. suction action when it enters the drying chamber.

si. In aniacliine of the character described,

a mold mounted for movement through a pulp tank and a drying chamber,means f or applying a.4 layer of pulp to the mold while passing throughthe tank by subjecting thev mold-I to a suction action, said mold havin"a trap chamber formed therein forthe collection of water admitted'during the application of the pulp, a drain valve in communication wviththe trap chamber, means for discontinulng the suction action when thecoa-ting of pulp has been applied, means forv automatically opening thedrain valve when the suction ceases to permit the water in the trap tomold trap chamber formed therein for the collecdraw away from the mold,means fonauto-Z matically closing the valve after the water has beendrained off, means for automatically subjecting the mold to a suctionaction when it enters the drying chamber, and means'for automaticallyejecting the dried pulp when the mold leaves the drying chamber.

5. In a machineof the'character described, a mold mounted for movementthrough a pulp tank and a drying chamber, means for applying a layer ofpulp to the mold while passing through the tank by subjecting the to asuction action, said mo-ld having a tion of Water admitted during theapplication of the pulp, a drain valve in communication with the trapchamber, means for discontinuing the suction action When the coating ofpulp has been applied, means for automatically opening the drain valvewhen the suction ceases to permit the Water in the trap to drain awayfrom the mold, means for automatically closing the valve after the Waterhas been drained off, means for automatically subjecting the mold to a.suction action when it enters the drying chamber, and means foradmitting air under pressure to the lmold when it leaves the dryingchamber to eject the dried pulp.

6. In a machine of thecharacter described a continuously rotatingmember, a plurality of molds mounted thereon, a pulp containing tank inwhich the molds are successively subn'ierged during rotation-of themember, means whereby each mold is subjected to a suction action Whilesubmerged to apply a coating of pulp, means for trapping Water enteringthe molds during the application of the pulp, means for automaticallydraining otl' the Water, a drying chamber cooperating With the rotarymemberl and the molds carried thereby to which dry Warm air is admitted,means formaintaining a suction on the molds .with each trap after thewater has been drained off and while the molds are passing through thedrying chamber and means for automatically removing the pulp When dried.In a machine of thecharacter described, a drum consisting of apluralityof connected housings, each housing having a trap chamber formedtherein, ,a housing, a s'ct'ion pipe and an air pressure pipe connectedwith each housing, a valve on each pipe, al drain valve in communicationchamber, means for transmitting a continuous rotary movement to thedrum, a pulp tank cooperating ivith the drum and in which vthe housingscarrying the molds are successively submerged during the continuousrotation of the drum, a housing cooperating With the drum to which Warmdry air is delivered, a venting valve 'cooperating with each housing andmold, means for automatically opening the valves on the suction pipeswhen the molds are submerged to permit a coating of pulp to be appliedto each mold, means for automatically closing said valves when thepulpis applied, means for automatically opening the venting valves andthe drain valves to permit water Which has eIL- tered the housingsduring the application of the pulp to be drained off, means for closingsaid valves after the means for again opening the suction valves whenthe molds enterthe drying housing, means for again. closing the suctionvalves when the pulp is dried and means for 'momentarily opening thevalves on the air pressure pipes to cause automatic ejection of thedried pulp.

8. In a machine of the character a housing consisting of interspacedside Walls, end vvalls and a topvvall, one of the side Walls Water isdrained off,

described,

having an opening formed therein for the reception o'f a mold, anextension on the lower end of the side and end Walls forming la trapchamber and a drain valve in communication with the chamber.

9.y In a machine of a housing consisting of interspaced side Walls, endWalls and a top Wall one of the sidewalls having an opening formedtherein for the reception of amold, an extension on the lower end of theside and end Walls forming a trap chamber and a drain valve incommunication With the chamber, a suction pipe and an air pressure pipein communication With the chamber, a valve on each pipe, and means forautomatically opening and elosing'said valve and also the drain valve. j

10. In amachine ofthe character described, a continuously rotating drum,a plurality of molds mounted on one side thereof, means for applyingpulpto said molds and a channelshaped housing arranged on one side ofthe drum and in communication With the molds to deliver hot airthereto.4

11` In a machine ofthe character-described,

a rotor, ra fixed mold thereon means for ap? Vdrg'ingfchamber, means formaintaining a` lying a coating of pul to the mold, means or drying saidpulp whi for maintaining a substantially continuous suction on thepulpfrom the time of application to the completion of the drying, and

`means forejecting the pulp when dried.

12. :In a -machine of the character described, a rotor, a fixed moldthereon mounted for movement through a pulp tank and a stantiallycontinuous suction on the mold,

- first toapply a coating of pul when the mold lfor ejecting the driedpulp when the mold leaves the drying chamber.

13. ,A pulp forming machine comprising a mold, means for causlng saidvmold to travel `through a pulp applying station, a drying stationand anejecting station, suction means `for applying pulp directly to the moldfrom a bulk supply at the first-named station and `:for maintaining saidapplie gll pulp ',on the mold as it passes through said drying station,

and means for aplying air under pressure within the mold w en it reachesthe eecting station to discharge a formed and drled lar- 'v ticle fromthe mold, whereby the pulp will pointof-discharge of the linallydriedarticl; s

remain undisturbed on the mold from its point of application andformation to the formed and 14. A methodv ofl Vforming. pulp -articles Iwhieh'consists of applying pulp to a traveling mold,

ing chamber and maintaining the pulp on the mold and under-constant anduniform suc eling mold, passing the mold through a dry' mg chamber andmaintaining the pulp on the -g lmold andv under constant and uniformsuction during the entire drying operation.

15. A method of forming which consists of applying Pup t0 a travpassmgthe mo d through adrye on the mold,means ingthroilgh 'the' pulp tank andthe drying through the pul stantially continu .Y

' ,passes through thedrying chamber so that tion during the entiredrying operation, and then eecting the molded pulp article whencompletel dried by applying an air pressure to the mo d. Y s s 16. In amachine of thel character described a rotor, a mold xedthereto, a pulptank in which the rotor is partially submerged, a drying chamberadjacent the rotor and partially surrounding the same, said moldpasschamber once durlng each-revolution o the rotor, a suction pump, aconnection between the pump and themold whereby suction is applied tothe vmold and whereby a coating of pulp is applied to the mold duringits passage tank, and Warm air pulled through the pu p coating while themold the pulp will be dried, and means for appl in compressed air to themold to eject t e pu p article after itis-dried.

17. In amachine of thecharacter described a rotor, a'. mold fixedthereto, a pulp tank in which the rotor is partially submerged, a dryingchamber adjacent the rotor and partially surrounding the same, said moldpassing through the pulp tank and the d ing chamber once during eachrevolution o the. rotor, a suction pump, a connection between the pumpand the mold, a valve in the suction connection, said valve beingautomatically opened to apply suction to the mold, and automaticallyclosed` to close the suction connection, said suction when appliedcausing a coating of pulp to be formed on the mold during itsfpassagethrough the pulp tank and warmfair to be pulled through the pulp coatingwhile the mold passes throughthe drying chamber so that pulp articlewill be dried,

article.

c VCHARLES J. KEENAN. f

E. P. KENNEDY. ,GEORGE H. KlRsoH.- f

s y when 9o the pulp is dried so as toeject the driedpulp Y ulp articlesv f

